Alfredo Salazar Southwell
Encyclopedia
Alfredo Salazar Southwell (1913-14 September 1937) was a Peru
vian aviator
, celebrated as a national hero
.
. In 1920, he entered the Anglo-Peruvian School. Graduating with high marks, he entered the School of Engineers in 1931.
The next year, he presented himself to the Peruvian Air Force
to study as a cadet. He finished his military studies in 1935, assuming the rank of Sub-Ensign, and was assigned the post of flight instructor for cadets. In 1936, he was promoted to the rank of Flight Officer
.
, the airplane he was piloting started emitting smoke.
On seeing this, Southwell ordered his copilot, a mechanical technician surnamed Fajardo, to parachute to safety. Fajardo initially protested, but followed orders.
Southwell then purposely piloted away from urban areas. The plane crashed in a field in the seaside district of Miraflores
, killing Southwell. The field was dedicated as a park in his memory, and a monument honoring him was erected there in 1953.
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
vian aviator
Aviator
An aviator is a person who flies an aircraft. The first recorded use of the term was in 1887, as a variation of 'aviation', from the Latin avis , coined in 1863 by G. de la Landelle in Aviation Ou Navigation Aérienne...
, celebrated as a national hero
Folk hero
A folk hero is a type of hero, real, fictional, or mythological. The single salient characteristic which makes a character a folk hero is the imprinting of the name, personality and deeds of the character in the popular consciousness. This presence in the popular consciousness is evidenced by...
.
Biography
Southwell was born in 1913 (exact date uncertain) to an established family in LimaLima
Lima is the capital and the largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón, Rímac and Lurín rivers, in the central part of the country, on a desert coast overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Together with the seaport of Callao, it forms a contiguous urban area known as the Lima...
. In 1920, he entered the Anglo-Peruvian School. Graduating with high marks, he entered the School of Engineers in 1931.
The next year, he presented himself to the Peruvian Air Force
Peruvian Air Force
The Peruvian Air Force is the branch of the Peruvian Armed Forces tasked with defending the nation and its interests through the use of air power...
to study as a cadet. He finished his military studies in 1935, assuming the rank of Sub-Ensign, and was assigned the post of flight instructor for cadets. In 1936, he was promoted to the rank of Flight Officer
Flight officer
The title flight officer was a military rank used by the United States Armed Forces where it was an air force warrant officer rank. It was also an air force rank in several Commonwealth nations where it was used for female officers and was equivalent to the rank of flight lieutenant...
.
Death
On the morning of 14 September 1937, during a rehearsal for an airshow celebrating the inauguration of a monument to Jorge ChávezJorge Chávez
Jorge Chávez Dartnell , also known as Géo Chávez, was a Franco – Peruvian aviator. At a young age, he achieved fame for his aeronautical feats...
, the airplane he was piloting started emitting smoke.
On seeing this, Southwell ordered his copilot, a mechanical technician surnamed Fajardo, to parachute to safety. Fajardo initially protested, but followed orders.
Southwell then purposely piloted away from urban areas. The plane crashed in a field in the seaside district of Miraflores
Miraflores
Miraflores is the name of several places in Spanish-speaking countries. It is also the name of a battle fought in Peru in 1881. It means "to watch flowers" or "flower's view" from mira and flores .-Places:Europe...
, killing Southwell. The field was dedicated as a park in his memory, and a monument honoring him was erected there in 1953.
See also
- Colegio San Andrés